A kilometer after the start of Aley, next to Dunkin Donuts, is a restaurant called Kraydes or "shrimps". Behind a large glass facade and a huge sign written in Arabic is a restaurant specialized in everything fish. Inspired by the sea with white and blue colors we were enticed to go in.
Pass the fish display on the right and the sushi bar on the left to reach the open terrace with a view of Beirut and the open blue sea. White chairs and blue cushions under blue parasols, you feel like you're sitting in Mykonos.
What caught my attention was the menu, a wide menu divided into funny sections I personally didn't see before. There are regular meals, economical and family meals, which are better explained as sharing platters.
The menu sections are a little inspired by "Shrimpy" the fast food place that closed on Sassine roundabout:
- Salads
- Appetizers
- Fried platters (regular meal)
- Fried platters (economical and couples meals)
- Fried platters (family meal)
- Rice platters
- Grilled platters
- Kid's meal
- Beverages
Interesting offerings:
- Special salad with shrimps, crab and salmon
- Avocado shrimp cocktail
- Shrimp basket
- Fried seafood
- Meals with a selection of shrimp, calamari and fish filet and crispy fish
- Platters with rice
- Large and jumbo shrimp
- The sushi menu is surely to be changed. Written with a pen, the ingredients aren't even readable. All the photos are in very low resolution, which kills your appetite.
Lunch is served:
- Sushi: Well cooked rice, large sized portions, fresh ingredients. The maki rolls are better than I expected them to be. Looking good, fresh and appetizing. They do taste good.
- Fish Bizri: A generous portion of mini fried fish is supposed to be for one person but in fact is for three of four. Fish with lots of meat and tarator sauce on the side. I like it.
- Crab salad: Mayonnaise and pistachio, crab and lettuce on the bottom with rocket leaves mixed in a lemon sauce. It's a special take on the crab salad we know, presented in a generous way. Lots of crab and those pistachio, which add an oriental touch I like.
- The fried selection of appetizers is not oily, but those rolls have an overdose of garlic one doesn't want to start lunch with. The potato shrimps are good and the fried shrimp penne isn't not bad.
- I loved the kebbet samak: A crunchy envelope hosts a juicy heart of fish and nuts. Dip in Hummos and enjoy. I really loved this one, specially the balanced spices.
- Nice hummus, bravo.
- Now for the main players, fish and shrimps. The fish portion is pan-fried indeed, but looks dull and a bit unappetizing despite its reasonable taste. As for the shrimps, cut in half before being peeled they are very difficult to eat, not to say impossible. Tender and moist potato wedges and a good tartar sauce, but I'd work on this plate for a better, more appetizing look and surely never fry shrimps in their shells.
Sushi, fried mini fish, hummus and kebbeh, those I enjoyed and they satisfied my cravings.
